Free bus pass age rises again from 6 November: how to check when you qualify

The age at which people qualify for a free older person's bus pass is continuing to rise in step with the State Pension age, with the next group affected from 6 November. Here is how to work out when you become eligible.

Why the age is changing

Eligibility for an older person's bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is linked to State Pension age. As the State Pension age rises from 66 to 67, so does the age at which you can get a free bus pass.

The Department for Work and Pensions explained that the Pensions Act 2014 brought the rise from 66 to 67 forward by eight years, so it now happens between 2026 and 2028. Rather than everyone reaching State Pension age on a single date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 reach it at 66 plus a set number of months, depending on their date of birth.

Who is affected next

According to the Department for Transport, the next groups are:

Born 6 November 1960 to 5 December 1960: eligible at 66 years and 8 months.

Born 6 December 1960 to 5 January 1961: eligible at 66 years and 9 months.

Born 6 January 1961 to 5 February 1961: eligible at 66 years and 10 months.

Born 6 February 1961 to 5 March 1961: eligible at 66 years and 11 months.

Born 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977: eligible at 67.

Check your own date

The Department for Transport said: "There is a tool to check the date people become eligible for a bus pass at Check your State Pension age - GOV.UK, by entering their date of birth."

The online checker takes less than a minute and gives an exact date, which is the simplest way to plan ahead.

Disabled people are not affected

The rising age applies only to the older person's pass. People who qualify for a disabled person's bus pass can still apply at any age, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

Getting a pass in Birmingham

In Birmingham, concessionary bus passes are issued by the regional transport body, TfWM, rather than by the city council. Applications can be made online once you are eligible, usually with proof of age and address and a photo.

Under the national scheme, the older person's pass gives free travel on local buses in England from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. Some local areas offer more generous hours, so it is worth checking the details when your pass arrives.

If you are close to the cut-off, it is worth applying as soon as you reach your eligibility date: the pass is free, and it can make a big difference to the cost of getting around the city.